Q&A: Get to know the candidates running for Magnolia City Council Position 5

Why are you running for election?

I volunteered to step in for Position 5 on Feb. 8 when Council Member [Josh] Abernathy stepped down to relocate for his family and career. It is my passion and sincere interest in volunteering my time to help keep our community moving forward during this time of growth. While I enjoy the small-town feel, I look forward to more conveniences that are planned for our community.

What do you hope to accomplish in your term?

To represent the community as best I can. To be a voice for the hundreds of old and new residents. As someone who moved to this community for the culture and small town feel, it is my goal to embrace others moving here to continue our culture. I will continue to educate myself on each item coming to the city in order to make the best decisions possible for the future of Magnolia as well as the residents I represent. Most importantly, with all the new growth, I will fight for no tax increases for our residents.

How do you plan to approach the rapid growth and development Magnolia is experiencing?

The city has been planning for this growth for years. We have eagerly been anticipating H-E-B, and it’s finally coming to reality. A majority of the city is already in the development phases and are building new homes. We are going to have to attract more businesses to our city to support the residents and increase the tax base to continuously improve our city.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the city, and how would you address them?

We have a few challenges to face. From a culture perspective, it is important to embrace the new residents and share our rich history. We need to stay ahead of the growth with staffing and infrastructure. Our current city administrator, chief of police and staff have a plan for the expansion, and I support them.

Why are you running for election?

I am running to add additional skills and perspectives to the city council. The current council membership is focused on new development. I will bring my skills in grant seeking and communication to help existing city residents and businesses understand what nonprofits can do in partnership with us.

What do you hope to accomplish in your term?

I will address drainage, water supply and missing sidewalks. I would like to use my nonprofit experience to seek grants to update and implement our trail and park plan. This will keep property values strong, improve access to businesses and improve quality of life.

How do you plan to approach the rapid growth and development Magnolia is experiencing?

I will focus on preventing urban blight, by improving appearance and infrastructure within the city limits. I will support the City Council and mayor to balance growth with fiscal responsibility and champion access to public transportation.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the city, and how would you address them?

Finding the balance between the needs of new residential and commercial properties and the needs of our current residents and businesses. While we are expanding water treatment and supply, road traffic and economic development, we must continue to serve the existing residents with good drainage, clean reliable water, fire protection, walkable city streets and parks for all areas of Magnolia. I will address these challenges by adding my unique skills in grant seeking, strategic planning and communication. I will seek additional funding and partner collaborations on parks and trails. I will help prioritize programs and projects. I will communicate with our citizens about what is going on in the city that will affect their homes and streets.